6 December 2004HIGH-GRADE ORE BEING MILLED FROM MALBEC WESTThe...

6 December 2004
HIGH-GRADE ORE BEING MILLED FROM MALBEC WEST
The Company commenced open pit mining at Malbec West in mid-September, 6 weeks
ahead of schedule and approximately 18 weeks after the discovery of high-grade
mineralisation.
The open pit is designed to a depth of approximately 60 metres. The estimated total ore
reserve is 31,000 tonnes at 17.2 g/t Au containing 17,200 ounces of gold. Simplistically, two
separate and distinct ore zones occur within the open pit – an upper zone of 6-8 g/t Au
material and a lower zone of high-grade material.
Mining and processing of the high-grade zone commenced in the last week of November.
During this period (24-30 November inclusive), the Warrego plant treated 4,974 dry tonnes
of Malbec West ore at an assayed head grade of 38.4 g/t Au to produce an estimated 6,081
ounces of gold. Metallurgical recovery averaged 99.1% for this period.
Mining of high-grade ore from Malbec West will continue until mid-December when the
open pit is expected to be exhausted. Processing of this ore will take place during the
December 2004 and March 2005 quarters.
Having regard for gold production quarter-to-date, the Company is maintaining its
previously advised gold production forecast of 20,000 ounces for the December quarter.
The technical information contained in this report has been compiled by Kim Bischoff (Exploration Manager), a full time
employee of the Company who is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has relevant
experience as a Competent Person, as defined in the Australasian Code for Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and
Ore Reserves in relation to the field of activity in which he is reporting.
Enquiries:
GV Ariti
Managing Director & CEO
Telephone: (08) 9480 0492
E-mail: [email protected]